Open Access: One investigator’s experience

1. Open Access:One investigator’s experience Jennifer Harrison Elder, PhD, RN,FAAN Professor and Associate Dean for Research UF College of Nursing

2. My Background • Been in autism field since 1981 • “Autistic” vs. “artistic” • Problems • slow dissemination; 7 or more years • media’s inaccurate reporting of findings • Limited collaboration – “islands of research” • Difficult to assess innovation and significance

3. Research Program Trajectory • Development and testing of an intervention to promote language and social development in autism • Trained family members are the primary interveners • 12 years of NIH funding

4. Open Access Helps Build Research Programs • Dissemination of findings is quick, facilitating feedback from those in the field • Avoids delays related to subsequent grant submissions • Helps us determine what direction to go next • Our research – families can access information, direct application of findings • Reminds us of our real reason for doing reserach – to help children and families.